NIA Educational Institute – Yuva Shakti Award 2023
“I have chosen to no longer be apologetic for my femaleness and my femininity. And I want to be respected in all of my femaleness because I deserve to be.”
― Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, We Should All Be Feminists
As an integral part of International Women’s Day, Feminism serves as a reminder that gender inequality still exists in several parts of the World.
The book ‘We should all be Feminists’ is the gift Mrs. Vidhya Senthilkumar, Director-Branding and CSR of Propel Industries, gave to the listeners at NIA Educational Institute, emphasizing how feminism isn’t suppression of men but rather is rooted in “Treating Women Equally”.
To mark the International Women’s Day at NIA Educational Institute, Mrs. Vidhya Senthilkumar was presented with the “Yuva Shakti Award”, for her outstanding contribution to the educational and industrial initiatives to achieve equitable growth for society. In an articulate speech, she expressed her gratitude for receiving it, especially in the centenary year of Dr. Mahalingam - a ‘Visionary, Educationalist, Entrepreneur and Philanthropist’.
“He believed, Real growth, is the growth of everyone.”
The above quote forms the basis of Social Equity. Growing and prospering as one. However, that was rarely the case, as in the last ten years 40 percent of the wealth was distributed to the top one percent and for those 50 percent of people below the poverty line, the percentage number barely touched three. As much as the saying ‘As the Nation prospers, so will we’ is popular, it is nowhere near the bitter underlying truth that the wealthy and powerful will only gain more of it and vice versa. As the Director of CSR from the year 2015, Mrs. Vidhya Senthilkumar focused more on Educational schemes and programs, with a clear thought and goal in focus. To create the greatest impact possible in the long run to strengthen the roots to bridge the gaping economic divide. From Evening tuition centers to the NEET coaching program, although the latter is incredibly close to her heart.
Clearing The National Eligibility cum Entrance Exam (NEET) is no small feat. With a tough syllabus and language barrier just among the few hurdles, The CSR Director talked about five students who made it over to the other side, talking about three girls in particular who had the odds stacked against them and yet they persevered. How one of them had to endure poverty, discouraging village folks and parents standing as a massive roadblock for her to pass. She leaves us with a lingering dialogue from a strikingly relevant web series ‘Ayali’ which translates to “We can’t grow and move forward if we keep looking over our shoulders”.
Her speech is considerate and thought-provoking. On a day dedicated to women across the globe, not only does she bring attention to the topic of Feminism but on the necessity of social and economic balance to see and experience beautiful sustainable growth day after day.